3. To communicate to or affect with, as qualities or emotions, especially. Bad qualities; to corrupt; to contaminate; to taint by the communication of anything noxious or pernicious. "Infected Ston's daughters with like heat." (Milton)
4. To contaminate with illegality or to expo to penalty.
Origin: L. Infectus, p. P. Of inficere to put or dip into, to stain, infect; pref. In- in + facere = to make; cf. F. Infecter. See Fact.
(01 Mar 1998)
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